Washington -- Syracuse’s Hancock International Airport will likely emerge as a big winner as the result of an airline swap deal approved Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The deal allows Delta Airlines to take over 132 landing slots from USAirways at New York City’s LaGuardia Airport. In return, USAirways will take over 42 landing slots now operated by Delta at Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C.

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., who supported the swap, said the deal means that Delta can follow through on its pledge to serve Syracuse with more jets, and larger planes with more seats. Delta would replace the propeller-driven planes that USAirways operates on its Syracuse-New York City route with its own larger and faster jets.

Schumer’s support of the deal was contingent on the improved service in Syracuse, a priority for local economic development officials. The senator said the deal also paves the way for USAirways to expand its Syracuse service to Washington, D.C. “Improving air service in and out of Hancock is just what the doctor ordered for the economy in Central New York,” Schumer said Tuesday after the DOT approval.

“I pushed for this deal because it has the potential to deliver bigger, faster jets to transport tourists and business people to and from Syracuse,” Schumer said. “Now that the framework is in place, I’m going to push both airlines to deliver on their promise to improve service heading to the Big Apple and our nation’s capital.”

However, The Associated Press reported Tuesday night that the Justice Department wants to take a closer look at the deal. Officials said the LaGuardia portion does not raise antitrust concerns, but it wants to keep investigating the Reagan portion. The government says travelers at Reagan already pay some of the highest fares in the country.

Under terms of the swap, federal officials also opened the door for new, low-cost airlines to begin service out of LaGuardia and Reagan National. Delta and USAirways will have to sell 32 slots at LaGuardia and 16 slots at Reagan National to airlines that are new to the market, or who currently have limited service at those airports.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Contact Washington Correspondent Mark Weiner at mweiner@syracuse.com or 571-970-3751.